INSIDER
Zzzzzzz: US Open tennis players take naps before matches, especially late ones
Read full article: Zzzzzzz: US Open tennis players take naps before matches, especially late onesPlenty of tennis players at the U.S. Open agree that there are benefits to taking a nap before a match, especially if they are due on court at night.
Does Djokovic's next foe have hope? 'I was wondering that'
Read full article: Does Djokovic's next foe have hope? 'I was wondering that'Serbia's Novak Djokovic serves against Lithuania's Ricardas Berankis in the second round match of the French Open tennis tournament at the Roland Garros stadium in Paris, France, Thursday, Oct. 1, 2020. (AP Photo/Alessandra Tarantino)PARIS – At the mere mention of Novak Djokovic’s name, at the mere thought of sharing a court with a 17-time Grand Slam champion and the French Open’s No. He used these phrases: “really, really excited” and “really, really happy” and “really, really special.”Galan is, after all, ranked 153rd and never had won so much as one main-draw match at any major tournament until this week. Jelena Ostapenko, the 2017 French Open champ, plays 87th-ranked Paula Badosa, who arrived in Paris with a 1-5 Grand Slam record. “Well,” came Galan’s reply, “I was wondering that, to be honest.”And then he launched into a story about how he was “really, really nervous” before playing former top 10-member David Goffin in the Davis Cup Finals last November.
The Latest: Earliest French Open exit for Stephens since '11
Read full article: The Latest: Earliest French Open exit for Stephens since '11(AP Photo/Christophe Ena)PARIS – The Latest from the French Open (all times local):____6:10 p.m.Former runner-up Sloane Stephens lost in the second round for her earliest exit at Roland Garros since a first-round defeat on her debut in 2011. ___4:15 p.m.Novak Djokovic's biggest concern seemed to be dealing with a rare bit of sunshine during his second-round victory at Roland Garros. ___2:30 p.m.Australian Open champion Sofia Kenin reached the third round at Roland Garros by beating Ana Bogdan 3-6, 6-3, 6-2. ____1:10 p.m.Danish teen Clara Tauson's surprise run is over after losing to American player Danielle Collins 6-2, 6-3 in the second round. Pliskova's twin sister, Kristyna, was also playing a former French Open champion when she faced 2016 winner Garbiñe Muguruza.
Mladenovic pins French meltdown on US Open lockdown, no-call
Read full article: Mladenovic pins French meltdown on US Open lockdown, no-callFrance's Kristina Mladenovic plays a shot against Germany's Laura Siegemund in the first round match of the French Open tennis tournament at the Roland Garros stadium in Paris, France, Tuesday, Sept. 29, 2020. (AP Photo/Michel Euler)PARIS – Kristina Mladenovic blamed her French Open meltdown on her U.S. Open lockdown — and she wasn’t too pleased about a no-call on a double bounce that helped her opponent avoid ceding the first set Wednesday, either. Mladenovic was furious that chair umpire Eva Asderaki didn’t spot the extra bounce that came during a 10-stroke exchange. “If she would have done it, she would have all my respect and be super fair play,” Mladenovic said. “It’s brutal for the body when you (have) eight days (of) lockdown in a hotel room,” Mladenovic said Wednesday.
French Open: Mladenovic collapses again but blames umpire
Read full article: French Open: Mladenovic collapses again but blames umpireFrance's Kristina Mladenovic plays a shot against Germany's Laura Siegemund in the first round match of the French Open tennis tournament at the Roland Garros stadium in Paris, France, Tuesday, Sept. 29, 2020. (AP Photo/Michel Euler)PARIS – Kristina Mladenovic's first match since her nightmarish end to the U.S. Open produced another collapse and a controversial umpire's call at the French Open on Tuesday. The French player lost to Laura Siegemund of Germany 7-5, 6-3 after serving for the first set at 5-1. Mladenovic was furious with chair umpire Eva Asderaki for not spotting a double bounce on set point. Mladenovic slowed up, looked confused, and wound up touching the net, which automatically gave the point to Siegemund.
Clipped wings: Virus turns tennis pros' flights into ordeals
Read full article: Clipped wings: Virus turns tennis pros' flights into ordealsJennifer Brady of the U.S. prepares to serve against Denmark's Clara Tauson in the first round match of the French Open tennis tournament at the Roland Garros stadium in Paris, France, Tuesday, Sept. 29, 2020. But tennis players cannot home-work. And so, as now-rare world travelers, they've also become unwitting first-hand witnesses of how the pandemic is battering the airline industry. But the novelty wore off after near-constant flying became part of her tennis job, until “I really didn't like it, especially long-haul." “The best thing during the lockdown was that I didn’t have to go on the plane.”___More AP tennis: https://apnews.com/apf-Tennis and https://twitter.com/AP_Sports
The Latest: Djokovic drops only 5 games in French Open debut
Read full article: The Latest: Djokovic drops only 5 games in French Open debutSerbia's Novak Djokovic plays a shot against Sweden's Mikael Ymer in the first round match of the French Open tennis tournament at the Roland Garros stadium in Paris, France, Tuesday, Sept. 29, 2020. (AP Photo/Michel Euler)PARIS – The Latest from the French Open (all times local):___5:55 p.m.Novak Djokovic's first Grand Slam action since his disqualification at the U.S. Open went as smoothly as can be. ___3 p.m.Danish teenager Clara Tauson earned her first tour-level victory by beating U.S. Open semifinalist Jennifer Brady 6-4, 3-6, 9-7 in the opening round of the French Open. ___1:20 p.m.Second-seeded Karolina Pliskova advanced to the second round of the French Open by beating Mayar Sherif 6-7 (9), 6-2, 6-4. The big-hitting Latvian player won the French Open that year.